Teamwork makes the dream work! The Purple HerAmethyst dominated the Sports and Cultural Festival 2024 with the theme “Pagyakap sa Kultura, Maglaro at Magsaya” held at the OLPC-C JHS campus last September 25-27.
This year, three competitive teams: Fearless Pink Athena composed of Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint Matthew, Saint Francis of Assisi, and Saint Michael the Archangel, Purple HerAmethyst composed of Saint Anne, Saint Clare, Saint Pio, Saint Ignatius, Saint Thomas, and Rising Thunder Zeus composed of Saint Therese, Saint Mark, Saint Pedro, and Saint Joseph, fiercely competed against each other during the Sports and Cultural festival.
The event started with a Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Joseph Jinnoh C. Rosales at the school grounds followed by an opening program where all departments from elementary to college showcased their loud cheers to support and boost the confidence of their players during the roll call last September 25.
After the opening program, the festivities and games continued at the JHS campus where faculty and staff, MAPEH club officers and members served as facilitators guided by Kristel Joy Y. Rodolfo, MAPEH club adviser and JHS sports coordinator, together with Jerald Francisco, Culture and Arts club adviser, as mind games like scrabble, chess, and word factory began where the Purple team dominated and brought home all the gold.
Aside from the mind games on-going in the library, individual and dual sports like badminton and table tennis also started. The badminton singles girls, doubles girls and mixed doubles was dominated by the blue team; boys’ category by the purple team; while pink team won in doubles girls. On the other hand, in table tennis the blue team took the gold in singles A boys while the purple team took home the gold in singles girls, singles B boys, doubles girls and boys, and mixed doubles.
Basketball 5v5, 3v3 boys, and 3v3 girls’ category was conquered by the Purple team. Pink team dominated the volleyball boys and while purple team won in volleyball girls. This year e-games, Soccer, and Sepak Takraw were included in the team events.
The third day was yet again filled with loud cheers for the pop dancers, cheer dancers, and bench cheerers who conquered the stage and showcased their undeniable talent. Pink Athena team brought home the titles in bench cheer competition and cheer dance category while the Purple HerAmethyst clinched the title at the pop dance category.
Another highlight of the event was the Search for Mr. and Ms. Sports Fest 2024 where 11 candidates represented their team for the coveted crowns. Kathleen B. Samson, Princess Althea R. Gaffud, Ion Dezmund D. Bernardo, Juan Klounie Yosmar L. Corachea represented the Purple team, Daniela C. Amar, Jia Tiffanie S. Cadeliña, John Lei G. Gannaban, and Prince Khalil M. Valencia competed for the Blue team, and Abril Mary Shekina S. Agtarap, Dian Andi B. Dela Cruz, and Granth Charlz D. Salatan fought for the Pink team. Eventually, after the nerve-wrecking question-and-answer portion, Samson and Corachea brought home the titles which were turned over by Mikaella Juleanne Isidro, Ms. Sports Fest 2023 and Justine Paul Garcia, Mr. Sports Fest 2023.
At the end of the three-day event, the Purple HerAmethyst bagged the trophy as the overall champion with 23 gold, 10 silver, and 4 bronze medals while Fearless Pink Athena finished as the first runner up with 6 gold, 13 silver, and 14 bronze medals, followed by the Blue Rising Thunder Zeus who finished second with 6 gold, 12 silver, and 17 bronze medals.
Words by Dawn Billie Cañamales, Abisha Niña Jose